Japanese Temporal Connectives : ～tara, tokoro, toki : A Pragmatic Analysis

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to delineate the temporal properties of three seemingly similar connectives in Japanese, namely, ~tara, tokoro and toki (all roughly equivalent to 'when'). The method employed to carry out the analysis is a comparative method based on the following seven criteria shared by these connectives : 1. Temporality versus Conditionality 2. Particles Following 3. Tense/Aspect sequences in S1 (subordinate clause) and S2 (main clause) 4. Subjects in S1 and S2 5. Volitionality versus Non-Volitionality 6. Time gap between E1 (subordinate clause event) and E2 (main clause event) 7. Continuity between E1 and E2-Pragmatic factors By way of this comparative analysis, it has been possible not only to spell out the common properties shared by these three connectives but it has also become evident that they cannot always be used interchangeably.